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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Toadstool PWM-243
Designer:           Krulla_Chief
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            70
Role:               Brawler
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Dark Age / 3150
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         8,890,433 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,939

Chassis:              Endo Steel
Power Plant:          280 Fusion
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Standard
Armament:             
    2 Snub-Nose PPCs
    3 Medium Lasers
    1 Small X-Pulse Laser
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown with Angel ECM Suite
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown with Advanced Targeting Computer

================================================================================================
Overview:
    While many at D&K Creation Studios were working steadily on the costly Balsa, there was a
    steady group of engineers, technicians, and consulting Mechwarriors at work on the next in
    their line of reliable, relatively inexpensive mechs. The result of the so called "Project
    Wingman", is the 70 ton Toadstool.
    
    In this case, the PWM-434 is a radical departure from the original design of the anti-air
    'mech, this time aiming to make a reliable, ammo independant, accurate brawler variant after
    so many machines came back from both in house 'mechwarrior testing and Great House combat
    use having seen heavy return fire and their blackboxes showing their 'mechwarriors bringing
    them gladly within common brawling ranges even as the 'mech still had ample ammunition and
    targets for its anti-air work. With special attention paid to their Kurita customers as that
    was where the majority of these incidents occurred.

Capabilities:
    To do this, while much of the weaponry was changed, not much else internally was. It still
    had equipped the 280 standard engine and endo-steel internals, this time bolstered by a half
    ton more of armor to help it in its designated combat role, thanks to the removal of the
    ammunition necessitating CASE. To help handle the massive heat curve of its new weaponry,
    five more double heatsinks were added to the chassis to allow it to somewhat bear with the
    strain of a possible alpha strike after running.
    
    While still equipped with the Garrett DJ2 targeting and tracking system, and a slightly
    smaller and lighter targeting computer for greater accuracy, the main loadout of weaponry
    had changed, from twinned RAC/2s to two Snub-Nose PPCs equipped with capacitors for its long
    range weaponry, a triplet of regular medium lasers for a combination of shorter range
    striking power as well as heat saving functionality, and a small x-pulse laser as an upgrade
    to its head mounted er small laser.
    
    For other electronics, in place of the company standard laser anti-missile system is instead
    an Angel ECM system, and to appeal to their Kurita target demographic, a C3 slave system to
    allow it to share its targeting data as it inevitably gets closer to the forces it fights.

Deployment:
    Interestingly, the first combat deployment of the design came first only a month after the
    first refits to a pair of already made PWM-342 for testing purposes were made. A band of
    pirates, the Ouread Outlanders, were feeling particularly daring and decided to attack the
    main production plant of D&K Creation Studios during the final tests being conducted on the
    design, in this case simulated combat and combat conditions through a contracted mercenary
    company running both the opfor and the testing pilots, as well as security for the facility.
    Thanks in no small part to the fact the testing facilities were relatively close to the
    factory, and that the company itself was still relatively small at the time, the mercenary
    company made good time back to defend the facility as soon as the drop ships were detected
    making a hard burn for the facility.
    
    There, the pair of PWM-243s made an outstanding showing, the accuracy of the targeting
    computer linked Snub-Nose PPCs as well as the Angel ECM allowing the machines to easily
    maneuver and then mission kill or in two notable cases, outright kill a pair of suspiciously
    rocket laden and professionally made and maintained 'mechs with a shot to the cockpit with
    fully charged capacitor shots. Furthermore, the small x-pulse laser was also shown to be a
    correct choice as it helped the hired mercenaries, "Kitsune's Kitbashed Crazies, LLC", mop
    up any infantry that remained as the forces continued to be routed. The three medium lasers,
    of course, were three medium lasers and thus made a good showing whenever they were in
    range.
    
    In the after action report nigh-on demanded by the company for their product's first showing
    for actual combat, plying the mercenaries with good beer as a bonus to the regular bonus pay
    they received that day to for a faster writeup by them.
    
    According to one of the pilots, a Isaac "Fonzie" Ponshadour "It rode like a redlining
    dream, once I got in close. Sure it relies on those snubbies and that angel to keep the
    'mech going until it goes into shorter ranges, but with that tarcomp? Man, that thing is
    still as accurate as the brrt machine it was based off of. Shit, I mean, did you see
    Grange's shot to their fucking Longbow? If that doesn't convince you not much else will."
    
    Meanwhile, Shiera "Grange" Ikusabe had a much more critical view on it: "It doesn't really
    have a long range punch unless you charge those capacitors. And even then you'll only have
    the long range punch of a stock Warhammer, only at the cost of even more heat. I get why you
    eggheads chose those weapon systems and why, don't get me wrong they're good for brawler,
    but it'll need to be either addressed before you ship it out, or advertised that yes, this
    is a brawling variant and should not be used as the same skybroom that the 342 is. The
    tarcomp is nice though, so is the Angel and the C3 slave. It'll have to compete with the
    Warhammer both tonnage and main weapon wise but it has its own strengths to bring to the
    table. Even has a half decent cost if you compare it with that 10CT or whatever they have,
    that one they made after The Lich got popular. Also even with those stock mediums, it still
    runs hot if you run with a charged capacitor or two. Definitely wanna warn anyone that buys
    this that, otherwise it'll get a bad rep without even trying."

Notable MechWarriors:
    As the Toadstool PWM-243 is a newer model released to the markets of the Inner Sphere, there
    are few notable pilots, of which only one really stands out.
    
    Shiera "Grange" Ikusabe was one of the two test pilots chosen to put the newest iteration of
    the chassis through its shakeup tests on the day of the pirate attack on D&K Creation
    Studios' factory and handled it with a deft hand. Following the detection of the hard burn
    she, along with her fellow test pilot and the rest of the mercenary company acting as opfor
    in the tests she was hired along with, made good enough time in their machines to see the
    pirate forces making a hot drop to prepare an LZ for their craft. Seeing an opportunity and
    having charged both Snub-Nose PPCs as she and her lance made their way to the combat zone,
    she fired off a snap shot at a still dropping 'mech, a Thunderbolt 5SE or heavily modified
    version of one, landing twinned blows to the center torso, causing ammunition to cook off
    and mission kill the enemy 'mech. Following this she blitzed up the way between the heavy
    forests that surround the company's main production site. As she did, she eventually caught
    a Locust 1V2 completely unawares, removing it from the field through a simple combination of
    one snub nose PPC shot to the center torso and the three medium Lasers coming to bear. By
    then, the rushing mercenaries were finally fired upon as a hailstorm of rockets and PPC fire
    from a pirate Longbow, as well as a constant autocannon fire from enemy Centurions started
    peppering their chassis. Thankfully for both the mercenary company as well as the 'mech
    creation company, the fire for the most part missed their incumbent chassis and many close
    to them thanks to their Angel ECM systems. Knowing this, that is when Grange decided to push
    her piloting skills and her luck to the hardest she would that day. In part thanks to the
    heavy fire returned by her lance mates, she was able to push through the many rockets sent
    their way to get into optimal range to punish the Longbow that had egregiously over heated
    itself and found itself out of position. With a twin blast of blue spiraling lightning, the
    overcharged capacitated PPC shots found themselves landing right between the cockpit glass
    of the Assault 'mech, scoring Grange her third kill and first headshot of the day. Having
    seen their heaviest hitter removed from the field, the reamining pirate forces called for a
    general retreat to their awaiting leopards, with no plunder claimed and their left behind
    infantry killed to a man by the 'mechs with anti-infantry weaponry.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 3.50                     
Engine:                                     280 Fusion                16.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         17 [34]                   7.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  200                    12.50                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      22             27       
    Center Torso (rear):                               6       
    R/L Torso:                         15             24       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  6       
    R/L Arm:                           11             22       
    R/L Leg:                           15             27       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small X-Pulse Laser                                       H                 1          1.00             
Angel ECM Suite                                           CT                2          2.00             
C3 Slave                                                  RT                1          1.00             
3 Medium Lasers                                           RT                3          3.00             
Targeting Computer                                        RT                4          4.00             
Snub-Nose PPC w/ Capacitor                                RA                3          7.00             
Snub-Nose PPC w/ Capacitor                                LA                3          7.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 43
TP: BM,  SZ: 3,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 4 / (L) 0,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 7,  Structure (S): 6
Specials: AECM, C3S, ENE, MHQ1
 
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Code Release 2.25.5 (2025-11-01T16:12:58-04:00)